TORONTO – Former Loyola University Maryland men’s lacrosse All-Americans Reid Acton and Josh Hawkins were selected in last night’s National Lacrosse League (NLL) 2013 Entry Draft.

Acton was a third-round selection of the Minnesota Swarm, while the Vancouver Stealth picked Hawkins in the fifth round. They are the first Loyola players to be drafted by a team from the indoor league since current Director of Men’s Lacrosse Operations P.T. Ricci was in 2009.

Both players recently completed their first professionals seasons in the outdoor Major League Lacrosse League (MLL), helping both of their sides reach MLL Championship Weekend.

Acton and Hawkins started the season as teammates with the Hamilton Nationals – Hawkins was a first-round selection of the team, Acton a fourth rounder – but Hawkins was traded to the Charlotte Hounds on July 2.

The Nationals finished the regular-season with a 9-5 record and lost in the semifinals to eventual the MLL Champion Chesapeake Bayhawks. Acton played in four games for the Nationals and picked up four ground balls.

Hawkins suited up in three games for the Nationals, scoring a pair of goals and grabbing eight ground balls, before being traded. He then saw action in five games for the Hounds who finished with a 7-7 regular-season mark before beating previously undefeated Denver in the MLL Semifinals.

With the Hounds, Hawkins scored three goals in the regular-season to go with 12 ground balls. He then had an assist in the MLL Semifinals.

Both players were two-time All-Americans for the Greyhound sin 2012 and 2013 and helped Loyola to 46 victories, three NCAA Championships appearances and the 2012 NCAA title during the time at Loyola.

Acton tallied 85 ground balls and 53 caused turnovers, to go with two goals and an assist, as a defender for Loyola, and Hawkins scored 26 goals and had nine assists, 172 ground balls nad 34 caused turnovers on the Greyhounds’ rope unit as a short-stick midfielder.